I enjoyed the book, but thought it rambled on in certain areas. I like how the characters were well developed and the story was easy to follow.

I did struggle to keep my interest with this book unfortunately. I think it might have just been me ,and I hope other readers enjoy it more.

I love a good thriller!
This was tense, suspenseful and a page turner.
If you like thrillers definitely give this one a try

Ehhh.....the story started out okay but then fell flat after a bit. I ended up bored and struggled to finish as I couldn't connect to anything.

Immediately the book jumps into the plot, which I appreciate the switch up. Usually there's more of build up for the first half. I was hooked within the first couple pages. I absolutely loved the writing style. It was a thriller but mixed with cheery characters for the most part.

In this book we spend time with Rita Locke again. The main character is a journalist who reports on crime and comes across as likeable and relatable. Rita is funny, quick witted and sometimes stubborn. The more I read the more I was invested, I visualized every detail as it was written with vivid descriptions.

It starts out set in Pittsburgh, where Rita lives. However, once she starts to uncover more details about a potential operation of basically funneling bodies from a funeral home to the various medical schools outside of the states, she then throws herself in the mix by going to the Caribbean to investigate further. What already seemed to be a pretty big scheme, just kept getting more and more in depth as to how big the operation actually was.

This really was a fun read, and I could even see myself reading again. This is book #2 in the Rita Locke series. I have not yet read book #1, and I didn't feel like I was missing information. While this can be read as stand alone, I think you'd enjoy it so much that you might as well read both and start with the 1st book called The Taker. Which I will be circling back to very soon!

Read the acknowledgments at the end! Robin Acton tells us about the inspiration of the book and characters, I found it to all be interesting as well. Also tells us that there is a third Rita Locke book in the works. The author comes across just as kind and genuine as she's created her character Rita to be. I definitely look forward to any book that Robin Acton writes in the future, she's definitely made a fan out of me!
Thank you to Netgalley and Amphorae Publishing Group for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I wasn't a fan. The book started out alright then just petered out along the way. It felt anticlimactic. I am unsure if I just couldn't connect with the story and characters but I can only give it a 2 star.

Thank you for the opportunity!

Robin Acton’s Empty Boxes wraps you in suspense from the first line and doesn’t let go, much like the box Pittsburgh crime reporter Rita Locke finds herself trapped in—literally. This isn’t your standard mystery thriller. It’s gritty and sharply constructed, with unsettling plausibility that makes every twist feel dangerously close to real life.

The story centres around a funeral director’s murder and a trail of empty coffins, leading Locke deep into a global conspiracy that’s as shocking as it is cinematic. Acton’s pacing is impeccable: just when you think you've found your footing, the ground shifts again. The offshore Caribbean setting adds a heat-haze of danger and intrigue, making the unravelling of secrets all the more atmospheric.

What sets Empty Boxes apart is Locke herself—tough, relentless, and refreshingly human. You don’t just follow her investigation, you root for her survival. It’s this emotional grit, paired with tight prose and an eerie realism, that makes the book not just a thriller, but an experience.

If you like your mysteries macabre with a streak of sophistication, this one's worth cracking open.

My thanks to Robin Acton, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC,

Pittsburgh crime reporter Rita Locke is investigating the murder of a funeral director when she learns he’d been burying empty coffins. Delving into his secrets, she uncovers a sinister plot of international proportions that takes her from western Pennsylvania to an offshore Caribbean medical school, where she becomes entangled in a web of deception that leaves her fighting for her life! Wow! Chilling thriller! This book had great suspense, murder, mystery, intrigue, and some shocking moments! The storyline was very interesting! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

This has a couple of amazingly strong plot threads which come together in a shocking way, with plenty of blood and tears shed along the way. The protagonist is a terrific character, made even more likeable as she finds herself the owner of a dog called Boomer, and it is a rough path for her as she finds herself in the middle of the story she is trying to write. The author has a knack for presenting shocking scenes and events without melodrama, making them all the more impactful. A terrific thriller and a really clever plot.